Apple Pay arrives in UAE stores

Apple Pay has launched in the UAE, meaning you can now use your iPhone to pay for goods and services at a range of stores.

It was announced earlier this year that Apple’s contactless payment tech was coming to town, and as more stores accept contactless cards, you can now use your phone to quickly zip through the checkout.

Apple Pay is a secure way of easily using your phone to make contactless payments with your credit or debit card. In theory, it’s super easy. You scan your credit card using your iPhone, which then allows you to tap your phone at a contactless reader, acting as some sort of proxy credit card.

According to Apple, there’s no need to worry about the security of your card’s information, neither the phone nor your bank send, receive or store account information when you use Apple Pay. All transactions are heavily encrypted and, in short, use codes to instruct the bank to deduct a certain amount from your account.

Contactless payments are available on iPhone SE, 6 or newer models, including the iPhone 8 and X launching soon. In order for it to work though, you’ll need to update your operating system to iOS 11.

As long as you’re a member of one of the following banks, and have a compatible iPhone, you can get going now.